Segmental brush



R. J. FNTCHEY SEGMENTAL BRUSH miga. T, 1956 iled Jan. 7, 1954 United States Patent O 2,757,402 SEGMENTAL BRUSH Ronald J. Ritchey, Utica, Ohio Application January 7, 1954, Serial No. 402,713 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-202) The present invention relates generally to bristle-tufted brushes and more particularly to a segmental brush which may be readily separated into sections which can be easily and conveniently cleaned and sterilized.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brush having interchangeable individual bristle-tufted elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush which is rugged in construction and simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will be fully apparent from the following detailed disclosure and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a top plan View partly in section;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line Illlll of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the holder plate of my invention;

Figure 5 is a View similar to plate of my invention; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3` showing a modied form of my invention,

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 2 designates the assembled brush of my invention which is comprised of a plurality of elongated segments or elements 4 arranged in parallel side-by-side relation, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each of lthe segments 4, which may be made of wood, aluminum, plastic or other suitable material, carries a plurality of spaced aligned bristle tufts 6 which project in the same direction.

An elongated opening 8 extends transversely through the body of each of the segments 4. The openings 8 are in alignment so that they form a transverse opening through the body of the assembled brush for accommodating a holder plate 10. The holder plate 10 is dimensioned to t snugly in the aligned openings 8 and is provided with a flange 12 at one end which bears against one of the endmost segments 4 of the assembled brush when the holder plate is fitted into the aligned openings 8. The length of the holder plate is slightly less than the width of brush desired. The end 14 of the holder plate opposite its flanged end is provided with a pair of spaced threaded holes 16 and terminates just short of the outer surface of the endmost segment 4". A retaining plate 18 having a pair of spaced holes 20 therethrough is mounted across the opening 8 in the endmost segment 4" with the holes 20 communicating with the threaded holes 16 in the end of the holder plate. Screws 22 which pass through the holes 20 and are threaded into the holes 16 detachably connect the holder plate and the retainer plate together. The retainer plate 18 and the llange 12 of the holder plate exert lateral pressure on the endmost segments 4 and 4" to hold the assembled segments together while the body of the holder plate which passes transversely through the assembled segments prevents longitudinal displacement of the segments.

The openings 8 in the endmost segments are mortised so as to form recesses 24 for receiving the ange 12 and the retainer plate 18 and thus provide a llush outer surface on the endmost segments of the assembled brush.

The combination of the holder plate and the retainer plate insures positive retention of the bristle-tufted segments in proper position Without the necessity of providing a tongue-and-groove arrangement or similar locking Figure 4 of the retaining means on the abutting faces of the individual segments. Thus, the segments 4 may be inexpensively formed in a continuous length from which a multiple of shorter lengths may be cut as desired. After assembly as described hereinabove, the ends of the assembled segments may be ground to form a rounded contour thereon if desired.

When it is desired to clean and/ or sterilize the brush of my invention, it is only necessary to remove the two screws 22, remove the retainer plate 18, and slide the holder plate 10 out of the aligned openings 8. Then the bristle-tufted segments may thoroughly and easily be cleaned by immersion in an antiseptic solution or by any other suitable means as desired. Any worn segments may be quickly replaced or intere-hanged in like manner.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the width of the brush may be varied if desired. The brush shown in Figure 6 is provided with a telescopic holding member 26 having a female portion 23 and a male portion 30. The two portions are adjustably held together by means of a screw 32 which is `portion 30 of the fitted through an opening 34 in the female portion and is threaded into a threaded bore 36 in the male portion.

In assembling the brush with the telescopic holder, a number of bristle-tufted segments necessary to form a brush of desired width are arranged with their openings 8 in alignment. The female portion 2S and the male holder are then inserted through opposite sides of the brush and connected together by means of the screw 32. Whenever it is desired to change the width of the brush, the screw 32 may be removed and the male portion 30 disengaged to permit adding or removing segments to increase or decrease the width of the brush.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brush comprising a plurality of elongated bristletufted elements disposed in parallel side-by-side relation with said bristle tufts projecting from the elements in substantially the same direction, said elements having plane abutting surfaces, each of said elements having a transverse elongated opening therethrough,l said opening extending the majority of the length of the element, said openings being in alignment, a holder plate having a cross-section substantially the same as said opening and extending transversely through said aligned openings, a llange integral with one end of said holder plate bearing laterally against the outer surface of one of the endmost elements, a locking plate disposed across the opening in the other endmost element, and means detachably connecting said locking plate With said holder plate.

2. A brush as defined by claim l characterized by the openings in said endmost elements being mortised to provide a recess for receiving said locking plate and the flange of said holder plate.

3. A brush as defined by claim 1 characterized by the end of said holder plate opposite said llanged end having at least one longitudinally directed threaded hole therein and said locking plate having a hole therethrough communicating with said threaded hole, and a screw fitted through the hole in the locking plate and threaded into the hole in the holder plate.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,431 Fetters Nov. 21, 1905 1,200,045 Sund Oct. 3, 1916 1,586,751 Kellogg June l, 1926 

